Mount Kinabalu

Site Category : Mountain Park

Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Sabah and also in the whole of South-East Asia. It is 138km from the state capital Kota Kinabalu (formerly known as Jesselton) and rises at 4101m above sea level. Mt Kinabalu is not very high as compared to many other mountains in other parts of the world,but it is rich in flora and fauna at its foot hill and on its slopes.The world's oldest rain forest is found here. Within this area is found some of the richest flora in the world, ranging from lowland dipterocarp forest to the montane oak, rhododendron, and conifer forests of the middle altitudes and eventually to the alpine meadows and stunted, windswept bushes of the summit. It is quite an experience even for ordinary folks as one observes the transistion of one ecosystem to another while ascending the slope.Hence it is not surprising that naturalists from all over the world are attracted by this beautiful mountain. Some famous examples of flora are the Rafflesia-world's largest flower,and the many pitcher plants. Mt Kinabalu together with Kinabalu Park was inscribed onto the World Heritage List following the World Heritage Committee Meeting (convened annually June-July) in the year 2000. You can get there by public transport,hire a car or join one of the many organised trips offered by the tour operators.Usually they will drop you off at the Kinabalu Park Head Quarter. Accommodations offered here are ranging from the bunker type of dormitories,single room cabins,3-room chalets and normal hotels rooms. Activities available are jungle trekking,visit to nearby vegetable farms,florist gardens. If you want to scale Mt Kinabalu,you have to arrange for a special package with the tour operators before hand.It is not advisable to do the climb unprepared. Tour Operators:

• Borneo Discovery Tour
• Mount Kinabalu Adventurous Travel
• Nature Heritage Travel & Tours
• Sutera Sanctuary Lodges
• Sabah Sightseeing
• Sabah Holidays
• Inno Travel & Tour Services
• will add more later